This page provides answers to the most common questions about our project. Expand each section below to learn more.
What are the eligibility requirements for taking part?
To take part, settings must:
- Offer funded places for 3 and 4-year-olds.
- Be located within one of the following Local Authorities:
- North West: Bolton, Bury, Knowsley, Liverpool, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan.
- East Midlands: Derbyshire, Nottingham.
- Yorkshire and the Humber: Barnsley, Bradford, Calderdale, Doncaster, Kirklees, Leeds, Rotherham, Sheffield, Wakefield, York.
- Have sufficient space and staffing to run story time with groups of around ten children.
- Have at least 15 children aged 3-4 attending for a minimum of 15 hours per week.
- Have a minimum of two staff working with preschool cohorts.
- Not be involved in other EEF trials or EEF Evidence into Action Partnerships during the 2026–27 academic year.
- Not previously taken part in TWiTCH training.
My setting is located outside of the Local Authorities listed. Can we still take part?
At the moment we are only able to work with settings in the listed local authority list (see question above for local authorities). If you are interested in the programme but your setting is elsewhere, we would still love to hear from you: we will keep your details in our database and contact you if research collaboration opportunities arise in the future in your area.
We expect to have fewer than 15 children (aged 3-4) attending for a minimum of 15 hours per week, in September 2026. Can we still take part?
At the moment we are not able to include settings with fewer than 15 children in our programme. This is because the programme is being evaluated and in order for our study to show meaningful results, the evaluators need each setting to have at least 15 children aged 3-4, attending for a minimum of 15 hours per week. However, if you are interested in the programme but your setting hosts fewer children, we would still love to hear from you: we will keep your details in our database and contact you if appropriate research collaboration opportunities arise in the future.
What will practitioners be asked to do?
Practitioners in intervention settings will attend initial TWiTCH training and deliver the programme during regular story time using three-week story cycles focused on understanding the story, exploring moral dilemmas, and applying learning through play. They will also take part in coaching visits and support evaluation activities such as questionnaires, researchers conducting pre and post programme child assessments, sharing audio records of storytime staff questionnaire and (in some settings) short interviews/case studies.
Practitioners in control settings will continue their usual story-time practice and complete the same evaluation activities.
Do we get any resources?
Yes. Intervention settings receive full TWiTCH training, coaching support, and a TWiTCH resource pack including traditional tales books used within the story cycles.
All participating settings also receive financial compensation for their time spent on evaluation and data collection.
What resources are required from each setting?
Settings will need sufficient staffing and space to run story time with groups of around ten children, nominate a TWiTCH Champion, allow time for training and evaluation activities, share parent information with families, and provide pupil data and access for researchers to carry out short pre and post programme child language assessments.
How will the programme be evaluated?
The programme is being tested through a randomised controlled trial comparing children’s language development in intervention and control groups. Evaluation activities include child language assessments at the start and end of the year, staff questionnaires, and in some settings audio recordings, interviews, or observations. Findings will be published in 2028.
How can we contact you?
If you have any questions or want further information you can contact the TWiTCH team by email at TWiTCH@shu.ac.uk
We are interested and we meet the eligibility criteria. How do we sign up?
You need to complete the expression of interest form, once submitted we will review your eligibility and if you meet the criteria you will be invited to attend or watch a briefing session. You will then receive a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to complete and return. A final eligibility check will be carried out before your setting is formally enrolled in the trial.
How long does the programme run?
The TWiTCH efficacy trial runs across the 2026–27 academic year, with delivery from September 2026 to July 2027.
What is the difference between intervention and control groups?
Intervention settings receive TWiTCH training, coaching, and deliver the programme in story time alongside completing evaluation activities.
Control settings continue their usual story-time practice and complete evaluation activities but do not receive the programme during the trial.
Will settings receive any payment for taking part?
Yes. Intervention settings receive £575 to support staff time for training, Champion responsibilities, and evaluation activities.
Control settings receive £1,000 in recognition of completing the evaluation activities.
Payments are made at the end of the project.
How will data and confidentiality be managed?
All data will be stored securely and handled in line with data protection legislation. Personal information is used only for evaluation purposes, and any published data will be anonymised so individuals and settings cannot be identified.
When will we find out which group we are in?
Settings will be informed whether they are in the intervention or control group between October and early November 2026 after randomisation.
Are there any costs involved with taking part?
There are no direct costs for settings, as costs are covered by the funder.
When will the results be shared and will you notify settings?
The results will be published in Summer 2028 and all participants, whether practitioner or setting will be notified.